High-Efficiency Wideband RF Rectifier With Enhanced Dynamic Power Range Based on Impedance Regulation Network

Abstract

A high-efficiency rectifier designed to operate across a broad range of frequencies and power levels is proposed in this letter. The rectifier features a dual-branch impedance regulation network (IRN), two subrectifiers, and a load resistor. The IRN is used to construct specific impedance relationship between the upper and lower branches at different frequencies and power levels, demonstrating good matching performance across a wide bandwidth and dynamic power range (DPR). Theoretical analysis is carried out, and a prototype is implemented, fabricated, and measured for verification. At 1.8 GHz, the optimal efficiency is found over 70% at an input power level of 8 dBm. The frequency range of the prototype is from 1.4 to 2.5 GHz (beyond 70% of the optimal efficiency), and the calculated DPR of the prototype is 18 dB (from −5 to 13 dBm). The total size is $0.22~\lambda _{\text {c}} \times 0.24~\lambda _{\text {c}}$ (at 2 GHz).